Smyrna times., 1887-06-08
A Prophet.

No one can now afford to overlook
the growing Labor party which has
Henry George for its prophet. 1t is
interesting for those who have been
identified with the old parties to
observe what he has to say about its eff
feet upon them. 70 the new labor
party, says Mr.. George in his Standard,
it is a matter of utter Indifference what
its effect will be on the old parties, as
the two are equally hostile to its prin-
ciples.
The first of the two parties to suffer
from the advent of the new Labor par
ty, says The STANDARD, would be the
Democratic and for similar reason to
that which makes the Prohibition par
ty menace chiefly to the Republicans.
1t says:
"The Republicans have always pre-
tended to be the friends oftemperance,
but their leaders have never for mo-
ment had any intention of alternating
the powerful support given to the party
by numbers of liquor sellers. Hence
sincere prOhihitionists when finally
convinced that the Republican party
would never grant their demands
withdrew from its ranks, making it the
chief loser by the political prohibition
movement In a similar fashion the
! Democratic party has always pTOfassed
peculiar sOlicitude for the rights and
interests of wOrkingmen, without the
slightest thought of sundering the close
| relations existing between its managers
! and powerful monOpoles and corporate
] fDhn ,..oV.lr ho
ginning to find out the falsity of its pre-
! lenses, and their establishment of {
seperate party here tells most against
the party that had embraced the larger
number of New York wOrkingmen. II
states where the tariff deiuslon or SOME
/ other fraudulent pretense has giVeI
the majority of their votes to the Re
publican party, that organization will
be the first to suffer by this new move
ment."
The Standard says that an analysis
of the votes in this city shows that Is,
551 Republicans voted for George fO
Mayor, and Al, ,82l Democrats, beside
nearly 1000 who did not vote for Othe
candidates of either party. Had tn,
the new movement extended to stat
officers, the state would have gone Re
publican 10y over $4,000 majority, OF
the New York city DETECTION alone
Taking Il longer look ahead, say
The Standard, the Republican part,
will have 10 reason to rejoice on it
short superiority. 1t will become tn
acknowledged party Of caste, privilege
money and reaction in a demOcrati
country, and It's extinction will be in
eVitable." The Democratic party los
ing New York, will have no chance c
carrying II Presidential election, an
the members of that party will have t
CHOOSE between the party Of labor an
the party of caste. Between tn
two the struggle will be brief, an
the Republican party after the burii
of the Democratic, will be consigned t
a hopeless minority.
Here is, certainly, robust faith. 1t
this kind OF enthusiastic assertion an
magnificent prophecy that gives IIenT
George the following of credulOI
constituency. He asserts that of a
values only land values without builC
ings or imprOvements) should be taxed
he asserts that this taxation should |
up to the limit of their total annui
rental; and then he prOphesies thi
this will abolish poverty. The pro,
of the assertions, and the link betwee
the assertions and the prophecy, al
, hard to find. Then he adds the asse
: ton that the country is all ago
: adopt the theory, and the prOpheC
|; that the Labor party will grind IL
t Democratic party to powder and the
put its foot on the neck of the Repu
lican party. When the Democrat
party breaks up, and its elemen
divide between the Labor party al
!; the Republican, we venture to guess
: we don't prOphesy-that the solid mi
e die class, the class that has ambitiC
to better itself, the class that has gat
cred competence and knows whel
its next weeks bed and board are cor
ing from, Will not find it difficult
rule the country. -Iadrpcndent.